Hi all,

I'm late to the discussion... but I guess that's appropriate considering the topic.

Julie, I hear you. Frankly, I feel ridiculous that I haven't finished yet... and I admit, it's not solely because of scheduling (though I certainly don't have the time and energy I had for it a few years ago). I think I'm a bit afraid of writing the last two chapters and not being satisfied, so I've procrastinated. Renée is a good friend of mine and she knows my personal life so I thank her for her kind defence of me, but I also know in my heart my story could have been completed by now if I hadn't gotten stalled.

I would love to say that if I had known when I started it would take this long, I would have waited to post. However, I'd never taken on any kind of writing of this kind before and the comments throughout the years helped me to continue. I have hit a snag in the final chapter and haven't looked at it for a long time.

I absolutely realize there have been people who have given up on my story because I post so infrequently and I'm sorry to hear it, but I totally understand. I've been there/done that too. So I know your frustration. Some of my favourite fan fics are WIPs that have been going for longer than mine, or that have been removed from the boards, or have been abandoned. I do intend to finish and hearing people are waiting is a compliment, but yes, guilt-inducing.

Thank you all for your lovely comments and I agree real life comes first and that has been my priority, but still, I feel a little silly for not having posted in such a long time. All I can say is that my story is not abandoned. I want to finish it. I'm still around. I hope you will be too.

Tracey

P.S. It's lovely to see all these "Maria"s commenting on my story as that's the name of my little girl. :)

Hi Tracey, thought I should join in :) I'm one of your devoted fans dying for the next chapter. Ready to offer any kind of help to bring this event closer :) Babysitting, cleaning, cooking - you name it :) This story is great! You cannot possibly disappoint us with the remaining two chapters, we love the posted ones so much. Your characters are realistic, charming, and believable, and also recognizable as the original characters of P&P - you are doing a wonderful job.
And if you by any chance need an extra beta reader -- please think of me :)

When I saw Marg's comment, I felt like I just had to reply!! I'm so glad that Tracy posted, and I just wanted to say that I dont think that the last two chapters could everbe bad, nor that we could be dissapointed. Oh, and I agree with Marg when she says in all that she says about the characters being lifelike and modern, but we can actually still relate to the ones in the original book. Anyways, good luck Tracy!

I love it, I want to thank Tracey sooo much for writing this, it is a lovely story!! Keep up the good work!

Hi, Tracey!! Lovely story!! I couldn´t stop reading it!!! Good luck with the writing of the two last chapters!!

Hey, Just started reading your story! I love it so far, I can't wait to read the ending. Your doing a great job!

hey there,

Just checking in to see if there was a new chapter! Hope all is well.

I didn't think when the time came I would broadcast this, but I'm too excited. Tonight, I sent my final two chapters to my betas. Chapter 23 is about 8,500 words (or 18 pages) and Chapter 24 is 10,800 words (about 24 pages). I know it's taken me forever so I hope some of you are still interested in reading. I will send it off to Mrs. Darcy as soon as I've revised it, but that may be a few weeks. I can't believe I'm done! Sorry if this is teasing... it's really not meant as such. I'm just so happy. :D

Tracey

Weeee! I am just as happy and excited that you have finished the story, Tracey! Thank you for remembering to do so! Now will be patiently waiting for Mrs Darcy to publish them

Yeaaaaa! I to will wait and be patient for the next chapters! Thank you for the update....

*CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP*

This is wonderful news, Tracey!

Congratulations!

Cheers,
Julia B

YESSSS!!! Tracey, I can't believe we can finally get to read the finale of this wonderful story!! Can't wait, dear!

You made my day!

Yes Tracey..that is really my goofy grins........I have always believe that you will finish your story...but I know with your wonderful kids and all...wjho are we to compete for your attention... ............but Tracey dearest IAM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED............your Lizzy & Darcy has always been my fav......... ........thank you thank you thank you Traceyyyyyyyyyyyy for your time spent to finish this fairy tale.........ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh I can't wait...........................

IMA

Tracey, I am so glad you finally did it!!!

I do believe in the power of prayer even when concerning p&p FF...

Meanwhile I restarted reading the all story...
Look forward to reading the final chapters.

Dear Renée, please do not let us wait toooooooooooooo long

Ah, you all make me feel so great. I have a huge smile reading your comments. I'm so glad you're still interested and I hope the last couple of chapters will be fun to read. While it took a long time, I had fun writing most of the chapters... a couple of spots were a bit frustrating!

Hi Tracey!

Great news! Thanks so much for letting us know. I am most definitely interested in reading the rest of your wonderful story and I cannot wait to read it! I'm sure it's terrific. I am very glad to know that you were able to finish it in spite of everything going on in your life, we all appreciate it and hope things are going better for you and your family.

Hi Tracey,

Thats great news really excited about reading the final part of your excellent story . . . you've even given me time to re-read it before the final Installment comes!!!

Tracey,
We are all so happy that you have finished this great story. Although we wanted more and quickley, we knew you would want to write the perfect ending to such a good story. I am sure we wont be disapointed. Can't wait to read it. Thanks again for taking the time to give us such great reading material.

OMG!!! Am I seeing this correctly?! Please tell me that I am. I sooo wanted to throw my arms up and scream here at work...

Cant wait to finish reading my favorite modern version of the bestest love story of all time!

WooHoo!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tracy, Tracy, Tracy, I am so excited, I got up because I couldn't sleep and now after reading this wonderful news I know it will be quite impossible to get any rest. You know I love this story so much I printed a copy of it and took it to Hawaii with me last summer to read on the long flight. OMG I am so excited, oh I already said that. Thank you Tracy for not giving up, and my God bless you and your family.

Oh, my! Thank you to you all! Julia! You took it Hawaii! My story has travelled there but I haven't! Oh, well, maybe someday.

Just an update. I have, unfortunately, not heard a word from my betas, but they are busy women, one not involved in the fandom at all, so she has no clue about how we all get stoked about new chapters. I'll start bugging them this week, but until then, I don't want to push, after all, they do their great work as a favour to me!

Thanks again ladies... you all make me feel like a million bucks!

Tracey, That is just such GREAT news!!! I hope that your betas manage to do their bit very soon as I'm really impatient to find out how your lovely story will end!!

Yeahh!!!!

I will kindly volunteer any services to beta if that will help. I mean it!

YAY!
OMG I was SO happy when I read Tracey finished them!! And wow! They're not just 2 or 3 pages each!! I'm gonna have so much fun readinf them!! Thanks a lot for writing the story, Tracey. Among all the PnP fan fiction I've read (which is a LOT) this story is my absoloute fav! Gosh, can't wait... Hope your betas get to reading it soon...

Tracey,

I wish that I myself can be granted the third wish...I desperately wish to read the rest of the story soooooonnn ...........yipes where is the Genie when we need them most.. .I admit I have started to read your story again...just to reacquaint myself with your D&E..ohhh I have to admit your characters and plots are incredible right from the start. I want to "prepare" myself for the ending.. ..how frequent are you goin to post...

Tracey.. I am soooooooo excited...

Thanking you and all the lovely beta ladies in advance..

Ima

Tracey...just some questions..are you going to post all at once and relieve us from from our misery...if not

Good news! I have received a chapter back from my beta! So to answer Ima's question, I'm going to post one chapter on Sunday or Monday depending on when I get it to Mrs. Darcy, of course.

And then for the last chapter, we'll have to wait and see. :)

Tracey

Great news!! Cant' wait!!

YAY!!
Can't wait!

Ooooooooohh..I am turning blue while waiting...Tracey...I am SOOOOOOOO EXCITED

Ima

Part 1 of chapter 23 has just been posted, my dears. Enjoy!

OMG OMG OMG...I should have known that that will be his third wish...................oh Tracey I am so happy ..I couldn't believe that we are now coming to a complete circle...right back at Charlie's place...but Darcy is such a different man ..THAT Nite and TONITE. Oh ...I am so happy that he proposed..thanks you thank you...

I've been waiting for another chapter and it was worth the wait...this is an absorbing, romantic story of D & E and I love it. Especially in this chapter where he asks for the honour to be her husband is sooooooo brilliant and shows how much he respects and loves her. Once this is completed, I think I will re-read it from beginning to end. Hope you have it in you Tracey to produce another great story soon.

Dear Tracy,
I started preparing myself for today by re-reading for the 20th time your beautiful story last Thursday and Friday. I have to tell you Action and Reaction was the first PP modern story I read and I fell in love with it. I have prayed for you and for your family.

This chapter is wonderful to be able to see thru your writing how these two have grown and matured in their relationship. They have come a long way. The whole proposal was magical, so, so, so sweet. Very good use of the third wish!!!!

Great first part Tracey! It does not surprise me that Darcy held her ring in his pocket for months considering my own husband held my engagement ring in his pocket every day for six months. He said he just didnt know when the right opportunity would come up!

This story is so special to me! Lot it and of course cant wait for part 2.

That was sooo sweet! Astounding use of the third wish, I don't think I saw that coming.

So, now they are in the same place they first kissed (even if it was "faked" -I can't believe that was so long ago!-), but in a real relationship. It was hard work to get where they are now, but worth every single minute.

Can't wait to read part II!

Thank you very much, Tracey.

I'm not surprised either he was carrying that ring around - such a big lug deep down. *sigh* I've been waiting for this proposal for - how long has it been - I don't even know, but you know me... Now for Part II - gee, I wonder what will happen next??? LOL!

Great job, so good to read about these two, like old friends I haven't seen for a long time!

Julie

Tracey, that was so worth the wait!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! The prosposal was so delightful. Loved the image of hundreds of tea lights in the snow. Lovely! I need to go back and re-read the cufflink story--do you know the chapter?

Just popping in to say a great big thanks for all the lovely comments! I will get back to you all in more detail but I'm off to bed right now!

Lucy... the cufflinks were mentioned throughout several chapters of the story. I'd have to go back and look too! I do know he partially explains them in the chapter after the poker match and they first appear the night he attends the gala for the Queen... I'm awful, I don't know my chapters by heart! It's been a long time for me too!

Tracey

Hi Tracey!

THANK YOU!!! Thank you so much for posting this beautiful chapter, it was worth the wait!!! Loved the proposal scene with the tea lights, how romantic our Darcy is! Can hardly wait to read the next chapter, well done you!!!

Darcy is so romantic and such a mushy fellow! it is indeed quite a transformation from the old days
I can't wait to see what Tracey, you have for us in the next part of the finale!

I thought it was a mirage when I saw this post!! At last!! And worth the wait. Lovely, simply lovely. Many thanks!

Thank you Tracey!

I agree with Lizzy - this is absolutely magical.

Great chapter!

Roselle

I MADE IT!
I read it all in one long wonderful day (I was so hooked on it that I even had my lunch in front of the computer...)
I can't believe I missed this story, but I'm glad I did, so I could read it all in one go (eagerly waiting for the last part!)
What can I say? It's wonderful, one of my favourite P&P ff so far.

Thank you Tracey!

...and thank you Renée for hosting it in this WONDERFUL site

Lella

...and thank you Renée for hosting it in this WONDERFUL site

Thank you, Lella for your lovely compliment.

And just to let you know, Renee will be posting the second half by the end of the week! I'm just tweaking a few things for a very... detailed... scene.

Tracey

I'm just tweaking a few things for a very... detailed... scene

It so happens that I'm reading part 2 as I type this message... with red ears... Gosh, Tracey, I admire you in many ways, as you are well aware, but there are very few FF writers I know who have the ability of writing scenes you are referring too with so much passion, sweetness and humour at the same time... All one needs is love...

Well, my dears, has your interest been piqued? Excellent! Just two more nights and you can read for yourself... *evil grin*

We shall indeed have a VERY VERY good weekend... Thanks Tracey... and oops..please accept my apology for not thanking YOU my dearest Mrs Darcy for for fabulous site....

Ima

thanking YOU my dearest Mrs Darcy for for fabulous site....

You're very welcome, my dear Ima. I'm just happy that you're having so much fun here. People like you keep me going.

Chapter 23, part 2 is up, my dears. You are SO going to enjoy it!

Don't forget to express your love for Tracey's fabulous story!

OK, I havent read it yet because I am at work but I am sooooooo excited that you posted it today. Since today's my birthday and in honor of it, and of Tracey, and since you posted it today Renee, I think I will contribute money to your awesome site right now!!!

Oh, and of course, I will read Part 2 tonight...